The Jamaica Constabulary Force, JCF, says gang conflicts account for the majority of the over 900 murders in the country since the start of the year.
The disclosure was made by Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, on Wednesday afternoon in a virtual press conference.
The country saw a 10.5 per cent increase in murders this year compared to the corresponding period last year.
General Anderson noted that the pandemic of crime and violence continues to run rampant in the island.
Abigail Bartley reports.
The recent JCF statistics indicated that between January 1 and September 11 this year, 991 murders were recorded in Jamaica.
General Anderson says 72 per cent of those murders were gang related.
Other crimes such as larceny and extortion account for five percent of the murders so far this year.
The Police Commissioner noted the domino effect of gang violence and interpersonal conflicts.
He says approximately 85 per cent of murders this year, occurred with the use of a firearm.
General Anderson says the country has a gun problem.
He says a different approach is needed to tackle the issue.
